Hinrichs: No decision on Downing

University of Northern Colorado football coach Scott Downing has a job for now. However, all that could change soon.

UNC athletic director Jay Hinrichs said late Friday night that no decision has been made on a contract extension for Downing, but that a decision should come by the first week of December.

Downing signed a one-year deal worth $95,000 last December that runs through the end of the fiscal year in June.

“Making a statement is probably a little premature at this time regarding an extension,” Hinrichs said. “He is currently obviously signed through the end of the fiscal year as are all of our support staff.”

Hinrichs said he hasn’t finished the final evaluation of the season as he completes exit interviews with members of the team and won’t make any announcements until that process is complete after the Thanksgiving holidays.

Downing said he hasn’t heard anything from Hinrichs or the administration on a contract extension or has any idea which way they are leaning. He said he will sit down with Hinrichs in the next couple of weeks to talk about where the program is at this point and where it is headed.

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Downing also said he believes it was important to get the contract issue resolved quickly with recruiting season right around the corner.

“I think it is important,” Downing said. “Obviously, it is a concern to some people, but again for us in the coaching world, it is something you have to deal with all the time.”

Hinrichs realizes a decision needs to be made soon.

“Everything in intercollegiate athletics needs to be done as soon as possible,” Hinrichs said.

Downing has a 6-39 record in his four seasons with the Bears and only three Big Sky Conference victories. UNC finished in a three-way tie for last place this season in the Big Sky with a 1-7 record, 3-8 overall. The three wins were the most in any season under Downing.

Downing said he believes the program has continued to make progress under his leadership though he is not happy with the amount of losses.

Still, he continues to preach patience.

“This is a very tough conference, and where we want to be is up with (the conference leaders),” Downing said. “You don’t do it overnight, and we feel we have made significant progress in a lot of areas. And one is I think we continue to do a very good job of recruiting very good athletes here to Northern Colorado.”

Hinrichs also believes progress has been made.

“Is it where we want to be? Clearly not,” Hinrichs said. “I think we made some tremendous strides on the defensive side of the ball. We want to win more games just like everybody else in this business wants to, but I think we have made some strides this year in a lot of aspects.”

Downing also said he doesn’t anticipate any changes in his coaching staff if he remains as coach. The Bears finished a respectable third in overall defense in the conference, but were eighth out of nine teams in overall offense.